Adjustment means for rivet feeding hoppers



July 11', 1950 T. .1. DOYLE ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR RIVET FEEDING fioPi-js Filed July 15, 1948 IN VEN TOR. BY 7ZOMa'a' J any/e s+-L CW (9 ATTOR NE? tbw A Patented July 11, 1950 ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR RIVET FEEDING HOPPERS Thomas Doyle, South Braintree, Mass, assignor to Tubular Rivet and, Stud Company, Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application'July 13, 1948, Serial No. 38,431

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an for rivet feeding hopper device and more particularly to a rivet feeding device for a rivet setting machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved rivet setting machine having a rivet feeding device characterized by novel structure for effecting adjustment of the cooper-v ating elements whereby to enable the feeding device to operate with maximum efiiciency.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved rivet setting machine havinga rivet feeding device of the cone hopper typecharacterized by novel structure for effecting adjustment of the cone hopper in a simple man'- ner whereby to enable the feeding device to operate with maximum efliciency.

.With these general objects in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the rivet setting machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

bodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rivet setting machine embodying the present invention, the rivet feeding device being shown in cross section as viewed from the line l-l inFig. 2; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the present rivet setting machine; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged'plan view in cross section, as viewed from the line-66 of Fig. 1, showing the adjusting mechanism to be referred to.

i In general, the present invention contemplates a novelrivet setting machine having a cone type rivet feeding hopper characterized by provision for effecting adjustment of the operating parts in a novel and simple manner whereby to maintain predetermined clearances for the heads of the rivets in the feeding device for most efiicient operation. The illustrated cone type rivet feeding hopper comprises, in general, an intermittently rotated conical hopper arranged on a hori-" zontal axis and having a plurality of radial slots formed in the periphery of its open end through which the leg or shank portion of a rivet may enter with the head portionv straddling the edges of the slot, and, a cooperating stationary end, or coverportion spaced a predetermined distance f om the open end of thecone to provide clear-.

adjustment means I ance for. the height or thickness of the rivet heads. The inner edges of the radial slots are flared outwardly in a manner such as to guide the rivets thus suspended into a horizontal position with the heads disposed between the ends of the cone and the stationary member, the rivets being subsequently released into a track or guideway arranged to deliver successive rivets into operative position to the rivet setting elements.

In practice, the cone portion of the hopper is mounted to be movable, longitudinally relative to the stationary end member to permit retraction of the hopper when it is desired to empty the same or to clear the cone in the event of a jam, and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a latch member is provided for aligning and maintaining the hopper in a predetermined fixed position to assure replacement of the cone in a position to maintain the predetermined spacing between the end of the cone and the stationary end member.

' The spacing between the end of the cone and the stationary end member is preferably made to accommodate the specific size of rivet to be fed, and, prior to the present invention, a different latch member was used for each different size of rivet so that a fixed spacing could be maintained. However, due to inaccuracies in manufacture, or to accumulation of maximum tolerances in one direction in the various parts of the assembled cone, the clearance spacing for the rivet heads might vary considerably from the predetermined spacing required so that, in operation, a jam of the-rivet heads between the end of the cone and the stationary cover member might occur, the feeding. of relatively small rivets being particularly troublesome in this respect, especially if the spacing was slightly greater than that required for efficient operation.

Prior to the present invention no provision ova made for effecting adjustment to obtain. .the.criti-'1 cal spacing required, reliance being placedx- 'entirely on the accuracy of the finished parts'i n their assembled relation to provide the predetermined clearance for the heads, and if the assembled structure did not operate efi'iciently, it had to be disassembled to correct the inaccuracies in manufacture and to replace some of the parts with others of a corrective size, the entire assem-' parts had to be replaced to accommodate the different size rivet and in commercial use of the machines this might necessitate sending a machine back to the factory for proper fitting of the parts with the accompanying loss of production.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for adjusting the latch member above referred to in a simple and convenient manner arranged to effect bodily movement of the cone assembly on its axis to obtain the re quired spacing relative to the stationary end member for most eificient operation. Provision is 5.150 made for locking the latch member in its adjusted positions so that when the'coneassembly is retracted away from the stationary end member and subsequently advanced into operative rivet feeding position, the latch-member will be effective to maintain the cone in its adjusted position. The present adjusting mechanism may also be used with advantage in adjusting the head clearance between the cone'and the stationary end member to accommodate adifferent :size of rivet,'the adjustment beingeasily andiquickly made by the" operator or attendant without :servicing by'the m'anuf-acturer.

Referring now-tothedrawin'gs, the present invention is-illustrated asembodi'edin a'rivet setting machine of the type having aareciprocal driver l arranged-to cooperate with an'anvil 12 to perform the riveting operation .in the work, and during the riveting operation thework may be manually supported onthe anvil by the operator. The driver It, as herein shown, is slidingly supported in abearingimember l forming .part of-a bracket Hand is arrangedto'bereciprocated by any usual or preferred driving :mechanism such as a one revolution *cranlgint shown; and throughconnections including a link' H3 connectedto one arm H3 of Ba' two-armed leverpivotally mounted at ZU in the bracketdd Theother arm 22 of the lever is connectedbyvsldttdzlinks 24 to the upper end of :the driver It, asshown in Fig. 2.

The rivet to be'sset is 'supportediinali'gnment with the driver'by. aiyieldablytmohnted{separable 4a holder 25 comprisingtwo. opposdzhalfs'ections shaped to form aasocket in which ithe .rivet is disposed in an upright ipositiontwithwthe head uppermost as shown inFig. 1. :Thehalfsections areisupported by opposedifiexible strapszil depending from a hub member til slidingly'fitte'd about the body of the driver ltiand -movable therewith during the descent of:-the1driver when the latter-engages the-head ofithe rivet-isupported therein. The rivet holder-26 isnormally; held in its elevatedposition, as "fShOWl'l', by'iauspring 32-connected :between the hub memberin and a driver link 24 and, is limited in its upward movement by engagement 'of the; upper 1 end :of the sliding hub 30 with thelower end of the bearing member Hi. In operation, the holderifi is arranged to move with the driver for apart of the downward stroke until-the end of the rivet engages the anvil, the holder being limited in its descent by an adjustablestopscrew-L36 carriedby an extension 38. attached to theshub member 30, and the stop'screw being arrangedto engage a stud 40 fast in the bearing member. :and extended through aslotted portion l2 ofthe extension 38. In its elevated position, theholder 26 is supported in'alignment witha feed chute or guideway '44 from which the rivetsfareasuccessively released, each cycleof oper-ationr to be guided into the'holder.

the driver descends it engages the head of the rivet in the holder 26 causing descent of the holder along with the driver It] until the move ment of the holder is interrupted by the stop 5 screw 36, whereupon the rivet is forced through the holder and into the work to be riveted during-the'continued descent of the driver to perform the rivet setting operation. The half sections of the holder are caused to spread apart loiwhen the rivet is forced through the holder by virtue of the flexible straps 28, and, during the continued descent of the driver, the holder remains in frictional engagement with the body of the-driver. Upon elevation of the driver, the

'15 holder 26 is returned to its elevated position in alignmentwith the guideway 44 to receive a sucj ceeding rivet-released therefrom. As herein shown, the guideway 44 forms a reservoir for the rivets supplied thereto by the hopper feeding device, indicated generally. at 46, and the rivets in the-'guidewayare released successively :by an escapement'mechanism, indicated generally at 48, arrangedtobe operated by connections including a lever having one arm 50 engageable with the escapement and 'a .second arm'52'having a cam surface engageablewith a stud 5% carried by the rivet-setting arm'l2'2,.one rivet being released each time the-holderisrreturned into alignment with the guideway atthe'endofa rivet setting operation. The upper end of the guideway is supported in operative engagement with thefeed-ing device &6 and the-lowerL end is supported by a depending' bracket' 59 attached to. the :machine frame.

*As illustratedinFigs. .-1 and 2, therivet feedingdevice.includesiaistationary end member 56 supported from thesbracket I 4 by an intermediate bracket 58, and 'a rotatable cone hopper 60 having aaiplurality of radial: slots-.62 at its-larger or open'iend; .Thebonezhopper 63 is supported for: rotation with-.aihorizonta1.shaft M :journaled in..the hub T66 oftheistationary end .member. In the operation of. thezdevice, the rivetsaresupplied to the "unit" through an opening fifl provided in the stationary member, and as the .coneirotates the 1 shank Cori leg 7 portions of the rivets tare; received in ithe:ra'dial .slots with-the headii'portions straddling the-:edges .of theis'lots and are guided into a horizontal position'by theioutwardlyfiared curvatureiof theiinner surface of the con'e adjacent the -open end-thereof The rivets 'are thus supported in a: horizontallpo'sition with :the head portions interposed b'etween the end of the cone and the inner surface #10 of the" end member. The shaft (id is arranged to be intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction, viewing -Fig. 2, by a ratchet 65 fasten the shaft -='64'*and a cooperating pawl 67 carried-by-Onearm BQ of a bell crank loosely mounted on one end-of'th'e-shaft 64. The; bellcrank is arranged ito berocked; each cycle of operation by' 'a link-l l- -connec'te'd' between thedriver operating arm-1% and the second arm 13 of the bell'crank.

Referringnow to Fig. '2 therivets thus -supported are maintained within the radial-slots byengagementof the rivets-Withthe rinrportion 7 virtue of a grooved portion--14 in the end'member 56 which provides clearance for 'the -headof the rivet, as s'howninFigfB'. The-rivet is maintained in a horizontal :position beyondthe influence or the cone fiil and with the shank of the rivet in =-In the operationof theriveting machine. when 7 L rolling contact with-the -rim portion-'iil -of the s stationary member andlbeing disposed-in a space I9 between: the rim and the-cone. rivet thus l released'from' the radial slot may rollby'grav-- ity-in'to. the g'uideway inlet I5, one side-of the inlet being defined by an extended" p'ortion II of the element "72 cooperating with --the -outsidediameter of. the cone and forming a bafile togde' 1 fleet" the rivets into the guideway, as clearly; shown inFigs. 2 and 4. lt will be' understood I agsr rssi i retraction of the cone assembly therov'er. The latch member 96 is pivotally mounted on astud I66 carried by a collar I08 secured to the outer end of the shaft by a through pin Ill] and is normally urged upward into operative engagement with the inner edge of the ring I06 by a spring H2 supported inga socket formed in the shaft and engageable with the underside of the latch member. The outer end of the sleeve I6 that in practice. theguideway l'fmay be' co'mmay be provided with a longitudinal slot Iill to pletely filled with rivets and that the rivets' may be disposed-alongthe arcuate-space E6 forming in effect a continuation of the guidew'ay--and:- being defined. by the outside': of the cone and 1. the'rimportion of the stationary end member; the rivets being progressively advance'das they areflsuccessively released by the escapement mechanism 46. .Surplus rivets carried by: the cone andprevented' from entering theaarcu'atespace I9 by previouslypositioned rivets may-drop back into the bulk supply when the coneis r0a tated to dispose the radial slots in a vertical po sition. .i. ,y

Referring. nowv .to Fig.;;1, the cone portion 6!) is provided ,with anend Wall'63 at itsls'maller. end which is secured to a 'fiangedlsleeve, .76 slid-u ingly mounted on the. shaft, the sleeve being connected to the shaft 64 by a key I8 cooperating.

' with an elongated keyway 86 arranged to peris maintained in yielding engagement with the 40 end wall 63 by an adjusting nut 88 engageable with a threaded portion of the'sleeve, a spacing collar 96 and fiber friction washer 92 being interposed between the nut 88 and the spring washer 84, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The outer end of the sleeve is provided with a nut 94 threadedly engaged with the sleeve and forming a handle by which the cone assembly may be bodily moved longitudinally of the shaft.

In order to maintain the cone assembly in its predetermined spaced relation relative to the inner wall 16 of the stationary member, and to permit retraction of the cone to empty the hopper or to clear the same in the event of a jam, a quick release latch mechanism is provided as indicated generally at 95, and which as herein shown, includes an elongated pivoted latch member or bar 96 having a transverse grooved portion 98 arranged to cooperate with the inner edge of a ring member I60 carried by the nut 94 and interposed between the outer end of the sleeve I6 and a flange portion I62 of the nut 94. The ring member I66 is threadedly engaged with the nut 94 and slidingly mounted on the shaft 64, the ring member being coextensive with the outer or threaded end of the sleeve in its assembled relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. v

The latch member 96 is generally rectangular in cross section and is arranged to fit in a longitudinally grooved portion I04 formed in the shaft 64, the upper face of the latch member being curved upon a curvature substantially equal to that of the shaft so that in its depressed position, the latch member conforms to the surface of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 5, to permit provide clearance for the end of the latch member in its engaged position, as shown in Fig. 1.

From, the description thus far it will be seen that upon manual depression of the latch memher 96, tofree the latch from the ring lllilthe end member 56 .as indicated by thedotted lines,

in liig. 1, andthat upon movement in the opposite direction the latch will be urged into operative engagement withthe ring to position the cone assembly in its predetermined spaced rela-,

tion with respect to the inner wall It of the stationary end member 56.

I Prior to the present invention the predeterminedspacing between the end ofthe cone 66 and the stationary member Was determined by the length ofthe latch bar 96, a different latch bar being provided foreach unit when a different spacing wasrequired. .In practice, it will be seen that this spacing might vary considerably dueto inaccuracies in the manufacture of the various parts making up the cone assembly, and, insome instances, particularly when relatively 753 small. rivets are being. fed, the variation in the spacing or head clearance caused considerable difficulty because of the liability of jamming; of the rivets between the cone and the stationary member.

In th illustrated embodiment of the invention the latch bar 96 is pivotally mounted on an eccentric portion II4 of the stud I06, the head of the stud having a slotted portion for convenience I in rotating the stud and the threaded end of the stud being provided with a nut H6 for locking the stud in its adjusted position. With this construction it will be seen that rotation of the eccentric stud I66 will change the pivotal point of the latch bar 96 and effect bodily movement of the cone assembly on the shaft 64 to obtain the desired spacing required between the open end of the cone and the stationary wall If! and that the stud may be locked in its adjusted position by the locking nut I I6. The mechanism for thus effecting the described desired adjustments is vention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims. Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a rivet setting machine, a rivet feeding -device comprising a horizontally mounted and intermittently rotated shaft, a cone shaped hopper mounted for rotation with said shaft and having a plurality of radial slots at its open 70 end arranged to guide the rivets into a position with the head portions directed outwardly, a stationary end wall cooperating with the open end of said cone and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom to provide a clearance space for said rivet heads, said cone being capable of tcta'esti 1 spacing for most eficient 'operation,=.and means.

for looking the latch member Lin-itsviadjusted position.

-2. -In a rivet setting machine, a rivet: feeding device comprising ,-horizonta11y mounted and intermittentl'yrotated shaft, a cone "shaped hopper mounted -for rotation with said shaft and-having a plurality-of radial slots at its: open end arra-nged to guide the rivets into a :position' with the'head portion-s; directedoutwardly, a

stationary end Wall cooperating with the open.

end of said'cone and-spaced a predetermined distance I therefrom to provide a clearance space for said rivetheads, said cone-beingcapableof movement longitudinally of-said shaft to permitaccess to the interior of thecone,'-an annular member carried by said con-e, a manuallydepressable latch member carried by said shaft and norm-allyurged into cooperating engagement with' said annular member -adapted tov maintain the cone in its predetermined spaced relation with respect tosaid-stationary amember during therivet feedingoperation, a pivo'tal mounting for saidlatch-member,--means 'foradjustingsaid pivotal mounting to --va-ry"\said-'---predetermined spacing for most efiicientoperation, and means for locking-saidpivotal meuntihg" in -its ad-j uste'd" position;

3.-In a rivet Setting machine, a rivet fee'ding 8. device; comprising a horizontally mounted and intermittently rotated shaft, a cone shaped hopper mounted 'for rotation with said shaft and havingagplurality, of radial. slots atits open end arrangedlto guidezthe rivets into a position with theiheadaportions directed outwardly, a stationiarywendrwall cooperating with the open end of said :coneandspaced a predetermined distance therefromvto provide a clearance space for said rivet;;heads,:,=said cone being capable of movementzlongitudinally of said shaft to permit access to the interior vof the cone, an annular member carriedbysaid cone, a manually, depressable latch membercarried by said shaft and normally urged into I cooperating engagement withssaid annular member; adaped to. maintain the con in. its predetermined-spaced relation with respect tosaid stationary member during the rivet feeding opera.tion,: aopivotalmounting for said latch memberinc'ludingarcollar secured to'said shaft, .and means-for. adjusting said, pivotal mounting to vary said predetermined spacing for most efiicient operation, said pivotal mounting including an eccentric stud carried: byisaid collar and adapted to be rotated2to change the pivotal point of said latch member, andua'nutcooperating with said stud for positively'lockin'g the stud in its adjusted position.

THOMAS J. DOYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The-followingreferences are of record in the I Name Date Clark"-- Mar. 31,1931

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